A growing infrastructure crisis at Beggs’ wastewater treatment plant dominated discussion during the April 13 Beggs Public Works Authority meeting, as officials warned the city faces difficult financial decisions, looming deadlines and the possibility of significant rate increases for residents.

“We are to a crisis point … at the wastewater treatment-we are in crisis,” the mayor stated bluntly during extended discussion.

The meeting began with routine approvals before shifting into complex and urgent conversations surrounding the failing wastewater system, aging infrastructure and how to fund millions of dollars in repairs.

— Aging system, past issues create costly problem Officials described a system plagued by past construction issues, flood damage and ongoing mechanical failures-problems that continue to surface as crews attempt repairs.

“What we’re finding is … they didn’t adhere to the plans … they cut corners in so many different places,” Merrill said, referencing earlier construction of the plant.

Among the issues cited:

• Missing infrastructure that was included in original plans

• Electrical systems installed incorrectly

• Equipment placed in flood-prone areas

• Undersized wiring causing operational failures Those problems have compounded over time, especially following flooding events, leaving the city struggling to maintain compliance with state environmental requirements.

— Financial decisions carry heavy consequences Council members reviewed multiple funding options to repair and complete the wastewater system, including state-backed loan programs and potential loan forgiveness opportunities.

However, each option carried significant tradeoffs. “We have to do it … and I sure don’t have all the answers,” Merrill said.

“If we don’t do anything, we bankrupt the city… if we do this loan and we can’t make the payments, we bankrupt the city,” Whitecotten added.

Estimates discussed during the meeting showed the impact on residents could be substantial, with sewer rates potentially rising significantly depending on the funding path chosen.

“We’re going to be the council that doubled everybody’s rates,” Hubbell said.

Officials acknowledged the challenge of explaining the situation to the public, noting the problem is largely hidden infrastructure.

“It’s not a pretty thing like the park or the streets… it’s infrastructure that the public doesn’t really see,” said Merrill.

— Council selects funding direction

After extensive discussion, the council voted to move forward with a Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan approach, directing engineers to proceed with that option due to fewer regulatory hurdles and faster implementation.

The motion passed, giving direction to Myers Engineering to begin the process.

The decision allows the city to move forward while maintaining flexibility before final loan commitments are made. Engineering contract expanded for oversight In conjunction with funding discussions, the council approved an amendment to its engineering contract to expand services for the wastewater project.

The updated agreement includes:

• Full project design and bidding

• Construction oversight

• On-site inspection services City leaders emphasized the importance of oversight to avoid repeating past mistakes.

“My job is to see that this doesn’t happen again … that it’s built as designed,” said proposed project inspector Ron Casey with Myers Engineering, who reportedly has 30 years of experience.

Officials noted that lack of proper inspection during the original construction contributed to current failures.

— Immediate repairs approved amid ongoing failures While long-term funding is pursued, the council also approved several immediate repairs and purchases to keep the system operational.

Among them:

• $47,524.97 to relocate electrical components out of flood-prone lagoon areas

• $3,643 for required water testing equipment

• $20,841 for a new structure to house chemical feed systems Officials said some of the issues stem from poor original installation decisions.

“They put the breaker boxes literally in the lagoon … to save wire,” Merrill explained.

It was explained without these fixes, equipment would continue to fail, increasing long-term costs.

— Public works report details ongoing strain The Public Works Authority report highlighted the strain on infrastructure and staff, including:

• Multiple sewer backups and clogs

• Water and wastewater line breaks

• Over 60 work orders completed

• Repairs to pumps and treatment systems

• Nearly 2.8 million gallons of water processed Officials noted aging equipment is creating additional challenges.

“They spend as much time trying to fix that equipment as they do using it,” one report stated regarding a failing jet rodder.

Legal and project matters addressed The authority also:

• Reaffirmed a $1.07 million water system upgrade contract

• Entered executive session regarding a potential legal claim tied to a water storage project

• Directed the city attorney to respond to related correspondence While the meeting covered a broad range of topics, the wastewater treatment crisis clearly emerged as the defining issue facing the City of Beggs.

With deadlines looming and funding decisions underway, city leaders now face the challenge of balancing infrastructure needs with the financial impact on residents.

“This has been left for us to deal with … and it’s coming down to-we’re going to have to deal with it,” Merrill said as he summed up the situation. “We’re to a crises point.”